Janis Joplin: Piece Of My Heart

janis' last days

When Janis appeared on The Dick Cavett Show in 1970, she demonstrated that she was growing emotionally. She mentioned how she was looking forward to attending her 10-year high school reunion even though those years had been painful. She seemed to be putting the past behind her and moving forward.

In the midst of recording sessions for the new album, however, Janis let herself be tempted into trying heroin once more. Unaware that the dose was more pure than she was accustomed to, Janis accidentally overdosed, dying on October 4, 1970 in a Los Angeles motel room. She was only 27 years old.

After being cremated, her ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean according to her wishes. Pearl was released less than two months after her premature death. The album's success finally guaranteed her eternal acceptance.

Since then, nine albums and boxed sets have been released and millions of copies have been sold. A Greatest Hits album, released in 1973, still appears on the charts sometimes, proving that Janis' popularity is indeed immortal.

Over the years, Janis has been called the best white blues singer in American musical history, as well as the greatest female singer in the history of rock 'n' roll. She was ranked third on VH1's list of 100 Greatest Women of Rock 'N' Roll.

It seems that people can't get enough of the powerful voice that sang about anguish and unhappiness. Yet, Janis' public persona was colorful in terms of her fashion and lifestyle. Some contemporary performers might try to imitate her, but she will always be an original.

There's always been a lot of interest in Janis Joplin's life, which is ironic considering how she was dismissed as a teenager. There have been many TV documentaries dedicated to her, as well as a 1974 feature documentary entitled Janis .

She also served as the inspiration for the Oscar-nominated Bette Midler drama The Rose (1979). Now there's a new biopic in the works called Piece of My Heart , which is set to star another Texan, Renee Zellweger. Janis Joplin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Her sound will always be remembered.

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